Fishing reel



April I, 19 2 F. w. SCHNEPEL FISHING REEL Filed May 18, 1949 2- SHEETS -SHEET 1 I INVENTOR.

A ril 1, 1952 F. w. SCHNEPEL 2,591,204

FISHING REEL Filed May 18, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to fishing reels and more particularly to reels embodying auxiliary mechanism adapted to facilitate the various operations associated with casting, trolling, or still fishing; such as, making a cast, snagging the fish, playing the fish, and reeling in.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved reel of the class described which is of relatively simple construction,

easy to operate, and not liable to get out of order and require frequent repair. The novel features of the present invention may be incorporated in a complete reel assembly for application to a fishing rod, or they may be embodied in an at tachment which may be applied to existing reels of conventional construction.

In its preferred embodiment the invention contemplates the provision of a reel assembly in which the winding of the reel may be alternatively placed under the control of a spring device or of the usual manual crank. A pawl and ratchet device is employed for holdin or locking the reel proper against winding in, especially as opposed to the winding force of thespring device, this pawl and ratchet device being quickly releasable either by hand or by the fish when it bites or strikes.

One of the important features of novelty and ingenuity presented by this invention is the versatility of the reel assembly with regard to the choice of means for retarding the paying out of the line, as for example while playing the fish. Besides the usual click or casting ratchet, the spring device and the pawl and ratchet device already mentioned may be used for this purpose, as well as a novel friction brake associated with the holding pawl and capable of being similarly actuated, either manually or by the fish itself when the line is properly threaded through the operating linkage provided for this purpose.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the followingspecizfications when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a fishing reel embodying the principles of the invention, certain of the operating and controlling parts being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of the reel taken substantially on line 2-2 of'F-igure 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is'a view in vertical section taken subsii i tially on line .3-3of Figure 1 and looking'in 2 the opposite direction from the view-point of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the holding pawl in released or disengaged position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a similar view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 1-l of Figure 4.

The novel fishing reel as a whole is designated generally by the reference numeral l0 and comprises the reel proper H having the end flanges l2 and i3, these parts being mounted upon and secured to the axle or shaft E5. The reel proper is mounted for rotation within the framework which comprises a base member iii to which is secured the driving gear housing or casing I! and the casing It for enclosing the novel control mechanism, these casings being iurther braced by the transverse rods [9 and and the tubular shaft housing 2|. Thehousing ll con.- tains the usual reduction gearing whereby the 4 reel l i is rotated in either direction by means of the hand crank 23 to which the handles or finger grips 24 are applied. The base member 16 is provided with concaved extensions 22 forattachment to the fishing rod.

Conventional line traversingmechanism is provided and this consists of the traversing loop 25 which is associated with the reverse threaded shaft enclosed in the tubular housing 2| and suggested at 26. A suitable nut, not shown, rides upon this shaft and carries the traversing loop 25 backand forth across the reel.

An extension shaft is formed with interlocking parts, as at 3!, adapted to connect it end to end with the shaft IS. The housing or casing I8 is closed at its outer end by a cap member 33 which may conveniently be made of plastic, hard rubber, or any other suitable material. Centrally of the cap 33 is a bearing recess 34 adapted to receive the attenuated end 35 of the shaft extension 39. The inner wall 36 of the casing i8 is perforated centrally for the passage of the shaft extension at and is strengthened at that point by the bridging plate 31' which is provided with a central opening offering a reinforced bearing for the shaft extension 36. The plate 3? is pref,- erably secured to the wall 36 by means of the rivets 38.

Keyed or otherwise securely mounted upon the shaft extension 38, adjacent its innerend, is "the combined ratchet and clutch member 40. This member is provided with a ratchet wheel 4| and a serrated jaw clutch half 42. This member rotates with the shaft extension 38 and is disposed between the plate 31 and the retaining or bridging plate 44, which plate has an oifset intermediate portion embracing the ratchet wheel 4| and provided with an opening for the clutch portion 42, the ends of the plate 44 being secured to the housing wall 36 as by means of the screws 45.

A tubular member 48 is slidablyand normally rotatably mounted upon the shaft extension 38, this member being provided with anchoring means 49 for the inner portion of the convolute spring 58. The outer end of the spring 58 is formed with a loop which engages around the pin 52 which passes through registering openings in the ears 53 of the clip 54 which is mounted for swivelling movement with relation to the casing I8 by means of the screw 55.

The inner spring-attached member 48 is provided with a clutch half 56 adapted to interlock with the clutch half 42 carried by the member 48 which is keyed to the shaft extension 38. The member 48 is provided with a groove 59 which is embraced by an opening in the end of the clutch controlling arm 68. The outer end of this arm is provided with an angular flange 6| which is disposed for adjusting along the wall of the housing I8 so as to move th tubular sprin carrying member 48 axially of the shaft extension 38 so as to bring the clutch parts 42 and 58 into interlocking engagement and thus bring the reel II under the control of the spring 58. The end flange 6| of the controlling element 68 is provided with a bolt 62 which carries the locked nuts 63. The bolt 62 passes through the transverse slot 64 in the wall I8 of the housing and the bolt head 65 overlies the margins of the slot and provides thumb actuatable means for moving the spring clutch operator 68.

It will be seen that when the clutch parts 42.

and 58 are engaged, the unwinding of the reel and the paying out of the line will wind up the spring 58 and thus exert a resilient resistance to the paying out of the line. It will be noted that the space between the ears 53 of the spring retaining swivel clip is somewhat wider than the width of the spring 58 and this permits some slight lateral adjusting movement of the spring on the pin 52. The swivelling of the clip 54 also aids in adapting the spring to the shifted positions of its inner end according to the movements of the tubular member 48.

Associated with the holding ratchet 4| carried by the member 48 and keyed to the shaft extension 38, is the Ckil'1g pawl 18, the nose of which is adapted to enter the notches in the ratchet 4| and engage the teeth to prevent rotation thereof in the reeling-in direction, and therefore in the direction in which the spring 58 tends to urge the reel when the latter is clutched to the shaft extension. The pawl I8 is fulcrumed upon the pin 'II which may be secured to the inner wall 36 of the housing I8. The shank end 12 of the pawl member I8 is pivotally secured to a link I4 asby means of the screw I5. The other end of the link I4 is pivoted by means of the screw it to the slightly offset end 1'! of the lever arm I8 which passes through an opening IS in the housing I8 and carries adjacent its end the elongated loop 80. The lever 18 is fulcrumed upon the screw or stub shaft 82 secured to the housing.

A pawl operating element is provided'for manual operation and comprises the angular piece 85 disposed interiorly of the arcuate wall of'the cats-- Lil ing I8, the ends of the arms of the angle piece 85 being adapted to bear upon the inner surface of the wall. A screw 86 is threaded into the piece 85 and extends through a slot 57 in the wall, the head 88 serving as a thumb-operated element for sliding the part 85. The longer arm of the element 85 bears against the shank end I2 of the pawl 18 and as the piece 85 moves around the inner curvature of the wall I8 it depresses the shank I2 and raises the nose of the pawl I8 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 4 I, this being accomplished against the urging of the spring element 88, which has one end secured to the wall of the housing I8 in any suitable way and has its curved inner end 9| bearing against the pawl to urge it into engagement with the ratchet. By reference to Figures 2, 4:, and 7 of the drawings it will be perceived that there is provided a brake plunger I88 which is adapted to bear against the peripheral edge It! of the end flange I3 of the reel II. This brake plunger I88 is carried upon the end of a spring arm or blade I82, the opposite end of which is fulcrumed to the wall 36 of the housin I8 as by means of the screw or rivet I83. The spring arm I 82 is biased outwardly away from the wall 38 so that the brake I88 is normally urged away from engagement with the flange surface NH. The curved spring arm I82 is disposed directly opposite the junction or pivot point .6 between the link I4 and the control lever I8, the lever I8 bearing, in the illustrated embodiment, against the spring arm.

The proportions and relationships of the parts of the linkage extending from the arm I8 to the pawl 78 are such that during the movement of the pawl (by means of the member 85) from full engagement with the ratchet 4| to the position shown in Figure 4 in which it is just free from such engagement, the brake arm I82 is not depressed to full contact of the brake element I80 with the flange I3. However, further movement of the linkage by movement of the lower end of the actuating arm or lever 56 to the right (in Figures 2 and 4) causes the lever '78 to slide along the inclined brake arm I82 and cause the brake shoe or plunger I88 to press against the flange edge. I8I of the reel and apply increasin pressure to frictionally retard rotation of the reel.

Both the releasing of the pawl I8 and the application of the brake I88 may be accomplished by the action of the fish itself, when the line L is threaded through the loop 88 after passing through the traversing loop 25. It will be readily understood that pressure of the line against the loop 88 will cause the lever I8 to angle, releasing the pawl 18 and thereafter applying the brake I88 to the reel. Alternatively, the lever I8 can be manipulated by the hand of the fisherman to release the pawl and/or apply the brake.

A click or casting ratchet device is provided on the inner face of the cap 33 and is designated generally by the reference numeral I84. A portion of the shaft extension 38 inwardly of the bearing end portion 35 is squared as at I and carries rigidly thereon the click ratchet wheel or star wheel I86. Riveted as at I6! to the inner cupped face of the cap 33 is the spring jaw member I88, the semi-circular arms I89 of which terminate at the gap I I8 into which the ratchet dog II2 extends. This ratchet dog is carried upon a pin II3 which passes through the slot H4 and carries upon its outer end the dog actuating button H5. .The dog II2 inwardly from thenose thereof is provided with oppositely disposed uonai.

notches or indentations H into which the ends of the spring arms I09 are adapted to spring when the dog is depressed so that its nose 'engages the notches in the star wheel I06. When the'line L is threaded through both the traversi-ng loop 25 and the braking loop 80 and the click device "I04 may be either thrown into or out of operation as desired. When the line is thrown out, all of the various controls may be disengaged orpl'aced in neutral. That is, the'button 88 is moved to the position shown in Figure 4 releasing the pawl it but not moving the linkage so far as to apply the brake I 00. The clutch button 65 is disposed in the position shown in 'Figurefi whereby the spring 56 is unclutche'd from the reel. When the line is out the spring clutch is rnoved into engagement and the reel is then rotated as far as it will go by hand, thus tensioning the spring substantially to its limit. When the spring is wound up, the pawl 10 is engaged by movement of the button 88 to the position shown in Figure 2. When the pawl is engaged, the brake Hill is of course free from contact with the lever 18 and is of course in inoprelative position. When the fish strikes the bait, the pressure on the line against the loop 80 causes the linkage 13, E ite tripthe pawlfrom'engagement with the ratchet ti and the spring 50 then comes into action and rotates the reel rapidly, jerking on the line and securing the fish upon the hook. Now when the fish is being played, he'may be fought by either the tension of the spring 56 or the friction of the brake I00, or the use of both factors. The spring may be thrown into or out of action by the clutch thumb piece 65 and the brake may be applied by the pressure of the line against the lever 18, or further manipulated by the pressure of the thumb orfi'nger of the fisherman upon this lever. The use of the click N14 is optional. After the fish is securely caught andsubdued, the line may be fully reeled in and of course when the reel-attachedclutch half 32 overruns the clutch half 58, the clutch is automatically disengaged and the traversing eye orloop 25 only and not through the brake loop 80. The use of the click is op- With the line out, the .pawl 19 is engaged 'and the spring clutch is also engaged, the reel thus being locked, the brake of course being off. When the fish bites, the-pawl T0 'is positively disengaged by actuating the button 88,

The spring 53 then jerks the line in and the fisherman'may then continue to reel in the'line, the overrunning of the reel serving to automatically disengage the clutch spring.

In casting, the fisherman-can use the traversing loop 25alone, or he may also use the brake loop 8|]. In the former case, in making the cast, the pawl 10 is disengaged but the brake I00 is off. The spring clutch is also disengaged and the click may be on or off asdesired. *Upon a strike, the spring clutch is immediately engaged by the movement of the 'button (55, the running 'ofthe'fish' serving to wind-up the spring. Thus 6 the fish may be fought by the spring pressure alone and ultimately when reeled in, the spring clutch will be disengaged.

Alternatively, when the brake loop is used in casting, the spring may be employed during the initial portion of the playing of the fish, and then when the fish breaks water, the spring may be released and the fish then allowed to apply the brake.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the illustrated embodiment and the operation thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as determined by the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

'1. A fishing reel assembly of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be attached to afishing rod or the like, .a reel rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to carry the fishing line, a hand crank and means operatively connecting said crank to said reel for rotating it in either reeling-in or paying-out directions, pawl and ratchet means engageable at will for preventing rotation of the reel in the reeling-in direction and. spring means engageable with said reel and adapted to be stressed to urge the reel in the reeling-in direction, said pawl and ratchet means serving to set the reel against reeling in and in opposition to the tension of the spring means, and means for tripping the pawl and ratchet means upon the tautening of the line to a predetermined extent by a catch to permit the spring to suddenly actuate the reel to reel in the line, braking means for frictionally retarding the paying-out movement of'the reel, means affording further movement of said tripping means beyond that necessaryto disengage the pawl, means on said braking means engageable by said tripping means duringsuch further movement, whereby said automatic tripping means also serves to apply said brakingmeans upon further tautening of the line.

2. A fishing reel assembly of the class describedcomprising, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be attached to a fishing rod or the like, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to carry the fishing line, a hand crank .and means operatively connecting said crank to'said reel for rotating it in either reelingin 01' paying-out directions, pawl and ratchet means engageable at will for preventing rotation of the reel in the reeling-in direction and spring meansengageable with said reel and adapted to be stressed to urge the reel in the reeling-in direction, said pawl and ratchet means serving to set the reel against reeling in and in opposition to the tension of the spring means, and means for tripping the pawl and ratchet means upon the tautening of the line to a predetermined extent bya catch to permit the spring to suddenly actuate the reel to reel in the line, braking means for frictionally retarding the paying-out move ment of the reel, means affording further movement of said tripping means beyond that necessary to disengage the pawl, means on said braking means 'engageable by said tripping means during such further movement, whereby said antomatic tripping means also serves to apply said braking means upon further tautening of the line, and manuallyoperable means for tripping said pawl and ratchetdevice to theextent of disene gaging the "pawl but inoperative toapply the "braking means.

3. A fishing reel assembly of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be attached to a fishing rod or the like, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to carry the fishing line, a hand crank and means operatively connecting said crank to said reel for rotating it in either reeling-in or paying-out directions, an axial extension rigid with said reel and adapted to rotate therewith, a ratchet wheel fixed directly on said extension, a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to be brought into and ou"u of engagement with said ratchet wheel to respectively prevent and permit rotation of the latter and of the reel in the reeling-in direction, manually operable means in permanent operative connection with said pawl for removing the latter from engagement with said ratchet wheel, means separate from said reel directly connected with said pawl, and adapted to be actuated by the tautening of the line for automatically removing said pawl from engagement with said ratchet wheel, means pivoting the pawl to said frame, said manually operable means including a cam movably supported by the frame and adapted to be moved against the pawl by the fingers of the fisherman, the automatically actuated means comprising a lever operatively connected with the pawl and with the fishing line, a brake element supported by said frame for movement into and out of frictional contact with a portion of the rotatable reel, said brake element being disposed in the path of movement of the said lever beyond the extent of its movement necessary to disengage the pawl, whereby after the pawl is removed from engagement with the ratchet wheel, continued movement of the lever applies the brake to the reel.

4. A fishing reel assembly of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be attached to a fishing rod or the like, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to carry the fishing line, a hand crank and means operatively connecting said crank to said reel for rotating it in either reeling-in or paying-out directions, an axial extension rigid with said reel and adapted to rotate therewith, a ratchet wheel fixed on said extension, a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with said ratchet wheel to respectively prevent and permit rotation of the latter and of the reel in the reeling-in direction, means for pivotally mounting said pawl on said frame, a lever pivoted to said frame and having one end operatively connected with said pawl, a brake element supported by said frame for movement into and out of frictional contact with a portion of said rotatable reel, said lever being swingable to withdraw said pawl from engagement with said ratchet wheel and to move a further distance beyond said pawl-withdrawing movement, said brake element disposed in the path of further movement of said lever and adapted to be pressed into frictional engagement with the reel by such further movement.

5. A fishing reel assembly of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be attached to a fishing rod or the like, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to carry the fishing line, a hand crank and means operatively connecting said crank to said reel for rotating it in eitherHreeling-in or paying-out directions, an axial extension rigid with said reel and adapted to rotate therewith, a

ratchet wheel fixed on said extension, a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with said ratchet wheel to respectively prevent and permit rotation of the latter and of the reel in the reeling-in direction, means for pivotally mounting said pawl on said frame, a lever pivoted to said frame and a link'connecting one end of said lever with said pawl, a brake element supported by said frame for movement into and out of frictional contact with a portion of said rotatable reel, said lever being swingable to withdraw said pawl from engagement with said ratchet wheel and to move a further distance beyond said pawl-withdrawing movement, said brake element disposed in the path of further movement of said lever and adapted to be pressed into frictional engagement with the reel by such further movement, and means carried by said lever for engagement by the fishing line whereby the lever may be actuated to perform both of its described functions upon the tautening of the line by the catch.

6. A fishing reel assembly of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be attached to a fishing rod or the like, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to carry the fishing line, a hand crank and means operatively connecting said crank to said reel for rotating it in either reeling-in or paying-out directions, an axial extension rigid with said reel and adapted to rotate therewith, a clutch element fixed on said extension, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on said extension, a convolute spring having its outer end attached to the frame and its inner end portion secured to said sleeve and adapted to be wound thereon, a mating clutch element on said sleeve, and means for moving said sleeve along said extension to inter-engage the clutch elements and thus operatively connect the spring to the reel, whereby the spring will be wound up and energy stored when the reel is rotated in one direction and may be released to rapidly rotate the reel in the other direction.

'7. The fishing reel assembly set forth in claim 6 in which a ratchet wheel is provided upon the reel extension and a pawl is pivoted upon said frame, and means are provided to operate the pawl and engage it with the ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of the reel in the paying-out direction, especially when the spring is wound up.

8. The fishing reel assembly set forth in claim 7 in which there is provided a brake shoe adapted to be frictionally applied .to the reel to retard its rotation, means movably supporting said brake shoe, the construction and arrangement being such that movement of the pawl operating means during at least a portion of its travel serves to move the brake supporting means to apply the brake.

9. The fishing reel assembly set forth in claim '7 in which there is provided a brake shoe adapted to be frictionally applied to the reel to retard its rotation, an inclined supporting member for said brake shoe pivoted with respect to the frame and disposed in the path of movement of the pawl operating means, the construction and arrangement being such that movement of the pawl operating means during at least a portion of its travel serves to cam the brake supporting member to apply the brake.

10. The fishing reel assemblyset forth in claim 6 in which locking means is provided for preventing winding-in movement of the reel under-the infiuence'of the spring, and in which there is provided a brake for the reel, and a common actuating means for the locking means and the brake.

11. A fishing reel assembly of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be attached to a fishing rod or the like, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to carry the fishing line, a hand crank and means operatively connecting said crank to said reel for rotating it in either reelingin or paying-out directions, an axial extension rigid with said reel and adapted to rotate therewith, a jaw clutch element fixed on said extension, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on said extension, a convolute spring having its outer end swivelled to the frame and its inner end portion secured to said sleeve and adapted to be wound thereon, a mating jaw clutch element on said sleeve, and manually operable means for moving said sleeve along said extension to engage the clutch elements and thus operatively connect the spring to the reel, whereby the spring will be wound up and energy stored when the reel is rotated in the line paying-out direction and may be released to rapidly rotate the reel in the reeling-in direction.

12. A fishing reel assembly of the class described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be attached to a fishing rod or the like, a reel rotatably mounted on said. frame Iii resiliently biasing said pawl toward ratchet eiigaging position; spring means normally disengaged from said reel, means for positively engaging said spring means with said reel and disengaging it therefrom, whereby rotation of said reel in the unwinding direction after such engagement will stress the spring means to urge the reel in the reeling-in direction; a lever pivoted to said frame and having portions thereof operatively connected respectively with said pivoted pawl and with the fishing line, whereby upon movement of said lever by the tautening of said line the pawl will be disengaged from said ratchet wheel and the reel permitted to rotate;

and a cam element slidably carried by said frame and adapted normally to be in contact directly with said pawl in opposition to the urging of said resilient biasing means, whereby manual movement of said cam element will serve to move said pawl into engagement with said ratchet and permit the removal of the same, under the control of the fingers of the operator.

FREDERICK W. SCHNEPEL.

REFERENQJES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED S'IATES PATENTS Number Name Date 278,867 Bryan June 5, 1883 730,457 Howe June 9, 1903 1,177,885 Molnar Apr. 4, 1916 1,662,347 Stocking Mar. 13, 1928 1,892,541 Smelser Dec. 27, 1932 1,975,385 Bachus -4--- Oct. 2, 1934 2,310,654 Sanborn Feb. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 790,537 France Sept. 9, 1935 

